Birmingham’s over 50’s had a solid start to the TRA National League with two wins and a draw. With four players missing from the side that lifted the WFA National Championships last week, they showed their strength in depth as Ade Whitehead, Andy Craddock and Rob Castle deputising.

Starting with a 4-1 victory over Stevenage with a Dave Norton hat trick and one from Andy  Struthers, Birmingham were getting used to playing inside boards, something that isn’t akin to their flowing passing game. Following this result a 2-2 draw against home team Dagenham and Redbridge, once again a Norton brace completing Birmingham’s scoring.

Their final fixture against Laindon Athletic proved a purely one sided affair, shots rained in on their keeper and at one point the referee halted play for him to rest and get his breath, he produced some marvellous saves but could not prevent Birmingham septet of goals as another Dave Norton hat trick a brace from David Castle and singles from Struthers and Rob Castle completing the 7-0 score line.

After the game skipper David Castle commented,”It’s been a good experience for some of the players that have deputised today and everyone can be proud of their performance, we played against three teams that only play in the boards and not lost so we’d take that, I think Norwich, Watford and Bexley seem well organised and they will be the teams to beat in this competition.”